Best Fitbits for Your Fitness and Health in 2025
As we move further into 2025, the question of Fitbit’s relevance remains. Despite its acquisition by Google, Fitbit continues to be a prominent name in the fitness tracker market. Fitbit devices are not necessarily designed for elite athletes, but they are still excellent tools for tracking overall activity and monitoring crucial health metrics, such as EKGs and blood oxygen levels.
Navigating the Fitbit Landscape
The transition from the old Fitbit to its future iteration is ongoing. The year 2023 was particularly challenging, marked by multiple server outages and the sunsetting of legacy community features, including challenges. Additionally, all Fitbit accounts now require Google logins. The Fitbit-to-Google account migration, which began in 2023, is essential for users of the Fitbit Charge 6 or the Google Pixel Watch 4. The Fitbit app also underwent a Google-inspired makeover, which received mixed reactions from users. Moreover, a significant portion of Fitbit’s leadership, including co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman, departed the company amid layoffs within Google.
In 2025, Google appears to be prioritizing its own smartwatches. Nonetheless, there are valid reasons to remain loyal to Fitbit trackers. They are often available at affordable prices, especially during sales. Every device comes with a free trial to Fitbit Premium, a subscription service that provides guided workouts, meditations, and access to more in-depth metrics. The service costs $9.99 monthly or $79.88 annually. With the launch of the Google Pixel Watch 4 in October, Google is clearly invested in its wearables, too. The new smartwatch boasts a longer-lasting battery, a more repairable design, and compatibility with Fitbit’s AI-powered fitness coach.
Top Fitbit Options for 2025
Google Pixel Watch 4
The Google Pixel Watch 4, though not explicitly branded as a Fitbit, is part of the same ecosystem due to Google’s acquisition of Fitbit. It represents a significant upgrade over previous models, featuring a sleek, domed display and slimmer bezels that increase screen real estate. This design allows for easy swapping of the display or battery. Testing showed battery life ranging from 36 to 42 hours, an improvement over the Pixel Watch 3’s 32 hours. Charging speed has also increased, going from 14 to 97 percent in just 44 minutes using Google’s new proprietary charger.
The hardware enhancements work in tandem with Wear OS 6, which introduces a complete redesign with Material 3 Expressive and integrates Gemini. The new raise-to-talk feature allows access to the smart assistant without the need to say “Hey Google” or press a button. New AI features, like Notification Cooldown and Smart Replies, enhance the functionality on your wrist. While Gemini in Wear OS 6 can be inconsistent, the redesign complements the Pixel Watch 4’s size and shape well. The Pixel Watch 4 can automatically track a limited number of exercises and offers an emergency SOS via satellite in remote areas.
Fitbit Inspire 3
The Fitbit Inspire 3 offers a good entry-level fitness and sleep tracking experience. It features a bright OLED display and a lightweight design. This fitness band focuses on the essentials, without built-in GPS, contactless payments, or digital assistants, but it excels in Fitbit’s advanced sleep tracking, stress management features, and irregular heart rate notifications. The OLED display is a marked improvement over the Inspire 2’s monochrome screen, and it boasts a battery life of up to 10 days, though this is reduced with the always-on display enabled. Various accessories, including a clip attachment and mesh straps, are available to personalize the device.
Fitbit Charge 6
The Fitbit Charge 6 is a higher-end fitness band that competes well with the more expensive Versa 4. It includes a color OLED screen, an EKG, and an EDA sensor, along with built-in GPS, NFC payments, and SpO2 sensors. One drawback is the battery drain caused by the always-on display, which reduces battery life. The Charge 6 offers a lot for its price, including being the only FDA-cleared EKG wearable under $200. It also adds an improved heart rate algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with gym equipment, and integrations with Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music. The Charge 6 features a haptic button for improved reliability.
Fitbit Ace LTE
The Fitbit Ace LTE is designed for kids, functioning more as a smartwatch with games, activities, and family-oriented communication features. It tracks “active minutes” that contribute to a progress meter, which unlocks games and customizations. With a $10/month subscription, it offers real-time location tracking and messaging to preselected contacts. It is built more like a cross-platform smartwatch and gets about a day’s worth of battery on a charge. The Ace LTE is ideal for kids aged 7 to 11, providing a balance of fun and communication features.
The Future of Fitbit
Google’s investment in Fitbit is evident through the redesigned Fitbit app, which features a new design and a Gemini-powered health coach, now rolling out to Android users with a Fitbit Premium subscription. The health coach creates weekly workout plans based on your goals and existing Fitbit data. Andy Abramson, Fitbit’s head of product, has hinted at new hardware, potentially a fitness-centric smart ring. The hardware improvements introduced with the Pixel Watch 4 are also a positive sign that Google remains committed to developing compelling wearable hardware.
The shift to Google has brought changes, including the mandatory Fitbit-to-Google account migration, set to be fully implemented in early 2026. Despite some user dissatisfaction, Google continues to invest in Fitbit, as demonstrated by the redesigned app and AI-powered health coach. Google laid off roughly a thousand employees from its hardware departments, including people on the Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest teams. The fact that Google is still investing resources in projects under the Fitbit name shows that Google is committed to the development of wearable hardware.
Sources: The Verge
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